BANGALORE: HCL Technologies, which counts the Bank of Ireland among its top customers, has reviewed employment terms for its staff in the country, the company said on Thursday . Last week HCL had to face a backlash from Ireland's local press and some employees who questioned the company's new terms and conditions. The company is making all increments performance linked and reducing the number of holidays in line with its operations in the UK, a market that this unit services.

HAMILTON: Indian bowlers reigned supreme after an indifferent start as they dismissed a spirited Ireland for 259 in 49 overs in their penultimate Pool B match of the cricket World Cup, here today. Opting to bat, Ireland were cruising at one stage with scorecard reading 206 for three but Indian bowlers made a fantastic comeback at the back-end of the innings, claiming as many as six wickets for 32 runs in a phase of 6.3 overs. In an astonishing record, India now have bowled out opposition for the fifth time in a row. Niall O'Brien with a run-a-ball 75 that had seven boundaries and three sixes was the top-scorer while skipper William Porterfield's patient 67 off 93 balls gave the Irish a platform.

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND: Shikhar Dhawan hit an aggressive century as defending champions India recorded their fifth victory in a row at the World Cup with a thumping eight-wicket win over Ireland in Hamilton on Tuesday. Chasing a modest 260-run target, Dhawan notched his second century of the tournament with an 85-ball 100 as India lost only two wickets in only 36.5 overs on a batting-friendly Seddon Park pitch. This latest victory meant India, yet to lose at this World Cup and already into the quarter-finals, were guaranteed to finish on top of Pool B ahead of their last group game against Zimbabwe in Auckland on Saturday.

HYDERABAD: A dozen Indian companies in the IT, pharma and manufacturing sectors are set to expand their footprint in Ireland. Lower corporate tax rate in the country, which is a part of the European Union, could be a key driver. "We expect at least around half-a-dozen companies to set up operations there and employ locals and this could help revive the fledgling economy," said Brenden Ross, director, Europe & India, Investment and Development Agency, Ireland. The global recession has hit the export-driven economy, which expects revival by 2011, said Mr Ross.

LONDON: British finance minister George Osborne said Monday that London was considering a loan to Ireland of about seven billion pounds (11.2 billion dollars) as part of an international rescue. "What we have committed to do is to obviously be partners as shareholders in the IMF in an international rescue of the Irish economy," Osborne told BBC radio, one day after debt-stricken Ireland applied for an EU/IMF bailout. "But we've also made a commitment to consider a bilateral loan that reflects the fact we're not part of the euro, and don't want to be part of the euro, but Ireland is our very closest economic neighbour.

DUBLIN: Debt-struck Ireland is awaiting the painful details of the toughest budget in its history, a condition for receiving a massive international bailout. Finance Minister Brian Lenihan's 2011 budget is being unveiled and voted on Tuesday night in parliament as protesters gather in the snow and ice outside. Lenihan says the plan _ the fourth emergency budget in just three years for Ireland _ will cut spending by euro4.5 billion ($6 billion) and raise taxes by euro1.